oyster mushroom

American  

noun

1. oyster cap.

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oyster mushroom British  

noun

1. an edible fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, having an oyster-shaped cap, commonly found growing in clusters on the trunks of broad-leaved trees

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Etymology

Origin of oyster mushroom

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

"The golden oyster mushroom may look harmless on a log, but it appears to be a strong competitor in the forest," she said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026

The oyster mushroom produces chemicals to paralyze its nematode prey within a few minutes of contact.

From National Geographic • Dec. 12, 2023

“Somebody sees this thing and they think it looks wild and extraterrestrial,” she said, “but it’s a pink oyster mushroom that cooks beautifully into something that tastes like barbecue pork.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

Furthermore, the oyster mushroom only goes to the trouble to make toxocysts when it is in a nitrogen-poor environment.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2023

Professor Peck says that in edible qualities it resembles the oyster mushroom, P. ostreatus.

From Among the Mushrooms A Guide For Beginners by Dallas, Ellen M.